Russell Westbrook Makes NBA History in Clippers' Win vs. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook became the first player in NBA history to have at least one game with 30 points and 10 assists for five different franchises Wednesday.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Westbrook has now accomplished that feat with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.

Behind a 36-point, 10-assist outing from Westbrook, the Clippers scored a huge 141-132 road win over the Ja Morant-led Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

While Westbrook is likely a surefire future Hall of Famer with nine All-Star selections, an NBA MVP Award and four seasons of averaging a triple-double to his credit, the past couple of years have been a struggle.

The Lakers acquired Westbrook in a trade with the Wizards prior to the 2021-22 season in hopes that he could form a superstar trio with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but he never fit in as intended.

After appearing in 52 games for the Lakers this season, Westbrook was dealt to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade that helped the Lakers land D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.

The Jazz waived Westbrook before he ever appeared in a game for them, and he quickly caught on with the Clippers, replacing John Wall and Reggie Jackson after they were waived and traded, respectively.

Westbrook has been a solid fit with the Clips, averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 three-pointers made in 30.3 minutes per game. He has started all 16 games he has appeared in for the Clippers, and he is shooting 49.2 percent from the field, which is well above his career mark of 43.8 percent.

His heightened level of play has come at the perfect time for the Clippers, who are in a heated playoff race and are without injured All-Star wing Paul George.

The Clippers are 8-3 over their past 11 games, and Westbrook's play has been a major reason for their success.

Entering play Thursday, the Clippers are in fifth place in the Western Conference at 41-36, just a half-game behind the Phoenix Suns for fourth.

They are also 2.0 games up on the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves, which is key since the top six teams avoid the postseason play-in tournament.

Westbrook has made plenty of history during his 15-year NBA career and put up some gaudy statistics, but the one thing missing is a championship ring.

If the Clippers can get George back for the playoffs and team him up with the likes of Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard, they have a legitimate chance to go the distance in the tightly contested Western Conference.